Forsaken

With two elemental airships at their disposal the party struggled too find common ground on what to do with their newfound mobility. It was eventually decided to have the Open Sky tow the Interceptor to a hidden location in the Chanth Wood. Detaining Enlo and the crew of the Interceptor aboard the Open Sky, Alvis discovers an arrest warrant and bounty for the party with all members listed by name. Enlo warns him that until their innocense is proven they will never be able to show their faces in Fairhaven again.

As the towing operation begins, it quickly becomes a deadly affair. Although Captain Mirkweather is an experienced sailor, his crew was cut down in the battle with The Interceptor and he now has novices aboard. The flight does not go well and The Interceptor and Open Sky, now tethered together threaten to crash into each other until the tether breaks and The Interceptor begins to dive to the round 500 feet below.

Realizing the destruction of The Interceptor would mean even more trouble for the party, Skywatcher grabs Alvis and leaps of the Open Sky diving onto the deck of the Interceptor where he and Alvis russle the ship to a rough landing outside of the Chanth Wood.

Short on time, the Open Sky swoops in to pick up Alvis and Skywatcher and attempt to catch up with the Red Five train bound for Passage. After two hours the party spies the train moving into a thick fog. As Mirkweather begins to move the ship into position, Skywatcher leaps across with a rope ladder and Alvis teleports to assist. As Doran attempts the perilous move across and slips, dangling between the speeding lightning rail and airship. Just then, crossbow bolts shoot past them into the darkness as a party of orcs bearing similiar markings to those in Grant Merton’s tower make themselves known.

Defeating the orcs and saying a quick goodbye to the Open Sky, the party begins to delve the rail.

o Captured the Interceptor airship, Enlo D’Lyrander, crew, captain, etc.
o Open Sky crew was pretty much obliterated
• Enlo was taken below and questioned. A warrant was found naming all
persons excluding Benjamin Broadbelly
• The decision was made to tow the Interceptor down to a hidden
location near Chanth Wood.
• As events took a turn for the worse, Skywatcher and Alvis flew
miraculously to the Interceptor and miraculously landed the airship.
Unfortunately it landed in an open field out Chanth Wood.
• After regrouping on the Open Sky, the adventurers headed to Passage.
• It is decided that the adventurer’s would attempt to board the
lighting rail from the Open Sky.
• As the airship came up along-side train, the Open Sky ran into
problems and the adventurer’s had to make a quick escape and get to
the train.
• As the adventurer’s boarded the train, a battle ensued with several
Orcs (600 xp).
• Four jars are found on the larger orcs, some sort of herbal paste
(herbal poultice +4 hp on resting healing surge).
• Between the remaining bodies, 100 gp were found.
• On one orc, a dagger is found similar to the one found on Markus
Arland. It venerates the Three Daughters of Sora Kel
• A short rest was taken.
• After attempting to eavesdrop in on the caboose, it was decided to
break in and ask for tickets. Alvis encountered another “conductor”.
Backing out of the room, the party moved on to the boxcar.
• The party leaped its way onto the roof of the boxcar. Inside a
large 10×10 crate was seen, but not thoroughly investigated. The
party moved on to a “recreation” car.
• Inside the recreation car, Gerrard spoke with a guard and learned
about the Emissary. The guard questioned Gerrard and also noted that
there were “several old ladies” on board.
o Lord Heri ir’Vessin – Emissary from Karnath
o Murzos d’Orion – Lightning Rail Guard
• Murzos gave the party legitimate tickets for the Red 5 train.
• Extras
o 180 xp for failed skill challenge

From Grant Merton’s tower 25 miles outside of Fairhaven you again mount up for a trip back the capital only to find a welcoming committee. Fairhaven militiamen seem to be on the look-out for a party similiar to your trying to escape the city. Not expecting you to be running back from whence you came you are able to sneak and talk your way through the gate and into Fairhaven where you attempt to catch up with the Red 5 train. Also, it has left some two hours before and one of the passengers has the book “Dragons of Xen’drik”.

Seeking to catch up you remember a “friend-of-a-friend”, Merriam Mirkweather who owns his own elemental airship, the Open Sky. You barter your way onto his vessel and set out for the city of Passage. Not long into the trip and ship appears in the sky, “The Interceptor” a Lyrander ship who is intent on boarding the Open Sky and placing you under arrest. An battle in the sky begins and you successfuly capture Enlo D’Lyrander and The Interceptor.

The Xen’drik Society hall is easy enough to find. It is a small, ramshackle affair on the corner of Princes Way. The building, while technically part of Wynarn University, appears to have been a shop converted into a small lecture hall and possibly a residence for Professor Codedul.

A small flight of crooked and creaky stairs lead to an unstable porch. Paint peels from the siding of this building and boards have replaced at least one window. The front door of the building sports a hastily scrawled note that states, “Lectures Cancelled Until Further Notice.”

The door isn’t locked. Inside a few students lounge around. You meet one by the name of Alex and tell them all to scram. Inside is a former workshop converted to a lecture hall with a few desks scattered about. The slate chalk boards are crammed with maps, hastily drawn diagrams and other notes relating to past lectures. Scribed in the center of one chalk board is are the very same words you read from the note to Ishon Wheelwright:

“Waiting to die I can only wonder; have we once again been forsaken. On the rarest of nights I can still catch glimpses of it. My work, I have given a lifetime to protect and it may all soon be undone…..

Galifar was a fool and so is his descendant, this King Jarot…

Treachery……

They say I have the blood of the ancestor and for that I must be destroyed. I will be the wellspring of evil."

You are surprised by the sound of footsteps on the stairs behind you. "Mysterious isn’t it? Little is known about Valenbrax, not even his color. He was very elusive it seems.”

The man is tall and thin. He looks haggard with pox-marked skin and a five-o’clock shadow. He wears a long, black, high collared jacket favored by you and more fashionable professors but unlike other faculty you have seen this one wears a longsword at his side.

I was sad to hear of my friend Marcus Arland’s death. He was a good and kind man and I’ll miss him. Arland was looking for a rare book for me, “Dragons of Xen’drik”. He thought he might have tracked down a copy at the home of a book collector named Grant Merton. That was last night. I can give you the address.

Codedul’s description of Marcus Arland doesn’t coincide with Jasmine Chandler’s. He attempts to flee but you surround him only to see him transform into an old hag. In a quick fight you put her down.

You travel to Whitehaven Hall on the university campus to meet with Haldo Quen. You are told he is in a meeting and cannot be disturbed but after a long wait convince the staff you must see him at once. Just outside his office you here a peculiar conversation:

Quen: I will tell them that Arland was working for Professor Bartell. With the rumors surrounding his death, that should keep them busy and give us time to work on the experiment.

Other Voice: Professor Bartell. Ah…yessss…excellent. Quite inventive. It shoud buy us the time we need.

Calling Haldo’s bluff you learn:
- that he is a member of the Xen’drik Society, a campus club dedicated to all things Xen’drik. — He had been talking to Professor Codedul via a messenger homunculus, a metal raven.
- Under pressure he divulges that the Society recently came across information regarding the lair of a famous dragon, Valenbrax. Very little is known about Valenbrax which is why the possibility of a new discovery is so exciting.
- He is working for another university professor, Davik Codedul.
- They are working on an experiment that would attempt to locate the lair and worry that any investigation into Arland’s death would lead to trouble and delay the experiment.
- He knows nothing about Arland’ death and claims Codedul is innocent as well.
- Marcus Arland was helping Codedul but Haldo is unsure of the nature of the work.

While you are investigating the death of Marcus Arland there is a knock on the door. One of Arland’s students has come to rouse him for a lecture. Worrying you might be implicated in the murder you banter around a few ideas to avoid blame before opening the door only for Skywatcher to see a familiar face from his past, Jasmine Chandler. From her you learn the following:

– Arland has been a professor here for ten years. He specializes in Xen’drick literature and culture.
– Arland was known for a snarky remarks and wisecracks. He always seemed unhappy and dour. He never liked to take orders, especially from those his junior.
– He is a Cryan expatriot.
– He was known to occasionally go on a drinking binge. His hangovers would only worsen his temper.
– He often consulted with another professor, Buko Bartell, an expert in Khorvarian Dragons.
– He was always resentful of research assignments given to him by the university.
– He was often spotted at a tavern close to the university called The Waynarn Well.
– He has been very secretive of late and may have been working on a project with another professor.

Jasmine offers to alert the authorities and buy you time to continue your investigation. She refers you to the gnome, Haldo Quen, the secretary overseeing Arland’s assignment at the University.

Traveling to the University of Wynarn in Fairhaven you are directed to a professor of Xen’drik studies, Marcus Arland. You arrive at his office to find the door slightly ajar.

The hinges creek as the door opens. Beyond bottles, books, alchemical equipment and clothing litter the once spotless room. A solitary figure, appearing to be Professor Arland with his graying hair, and still as the dead, crouches in the far side of the room, his face buried in the corner.

You investigation finds:
- The door has not been forced open.
- The room has been ransacked but there are also signs of a struggle.
- The rooms window is small and is currently shuttered and barred from the inside.
Arland’s corpse is crouched facing the northwest corner of the room. The PC’s must move the body out of the corner to get a better look.
- The eyes of Arland’s corpse are open wide and his facial muscles are locked in a visage of agony and fright. The front of his shirt is torn open and has spots of blood on it.
- He grips a dagger stiffly in his right hand. The dagger has a bone hilt etched with strange writing.
- Carved into the skin and muscle of Arland’s chest are the words, “wellspring of evil…”
- Given the dried blood on the dagger and the angle of the cuts on Arland’s chest, it’s obvious that he carved the message in his own skin but the cuts are too shallow to be the cause of death.
- A DC 14 Heal check can reveal that rigor mortis has set in. Arland has been dead for at least 4 hours.
- Dungeoneering/History 8 for goblins or orcs/Dungeoneering/History 14 for other races – Examination of the dagger determines that it is of orcish design. Religion 14 or ritual determines that the strange runes on the hilt are religious symbols venerating the Three Sisters.

Scattered around the room are Arland’s possession. PC’s can find a waterskin, Arland’s identification papers, a sunrod and 25 gold pieces in a brown pouch. Also in the pouch is a scrap of paper with the following address scrawled on it: 12 Princes Way.

- A DC 10 Streetwise or History check will recognize the address as being just east of Fairhold. The area is home to many royal and affluent Fairhaven citizens.
- PC’s also find a small notebook Inside are various notes and dates including shopping list, lecture ideas, appointments and poetry. The entry for yesterday is hastily scratched in and reads, “My find today is incredible. It goes to show you have quickly everything can change.”

The crowd parts to reveal none other then your new friend Enlo who has brought with him a contingent of Lyrander men and Fairhaven militia. He is intent on recovering what belongs to his House and free Ishon. A loud explosion interrupts your parlay. Kayal’s Bread Shop has gone up in flames. It is a mere diversion for another party, The Dark Dagger gang, who also have an interest in the information you have obtained from Ishon. Brokering a quick deal with Enlo you fight off the Dark Daggers but leave on no better terms with Enlo. The information Ishon held no longer belongs to House Lyrander alone and Enlo is all too aware of this.

Having accomplished your task, the next morning you return to your contact, Valer, the cyrstal vendor and River Elf in the market. He encourages you to investigate further by going to the University and looking for information there, following up on Ishon’s lead.

On the 5th day of scouring the city of Fairhaven for the scantist of leads, your endurance pays off as you spy the Mark moving through the crowd bound for the Lyrander enclave. The party decides to approach him after he does business in the enclave.

Upon his exit you attempt to find out what he knows but spook him. He bolts down a side street darting and weaving his way through the busy city streets. On the wall of the Lyrander compound you see the guards point in your direction. They begin to hurry off the wall and the gate begins to open.

Racing through the busy city streets you catch up with him. His name is Ishon Wheelwright and he has been tasked with brokering a deal with House Lyrander. He reluctantly gives you message from his employer in exchange for his freedom. It reads:

Ishon,

Hope things are well in Fairhaven.

Xen’drik is an awful place. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I hope it is not too much longer before you come to an agreement with House Lyrander so I can return. I can hold for a good price but I wear thin. Let them know I grow impatient.

While exploring the caverns I came across something unusual, a little carved out nook. Inside a book badly ravaged by the elements lay open. I could scarcely turn the pages without them crumbling and the ink was a blotty mess.

I’ve jotted down a few words below. Take them to the University of Wynarn and see if some professor can decipher their meaning. It might help me determine what I’ve stumbled upon.

I look forward to your reply.

Marcus Garber

(In Draconic, broken)

“Waiting to die I can only wonder; have we once again been forsaken. On the rarest of nights I can still catch glimpses of it. My work, I have given a lifetime to protect and it may all soon be undone…..

Galifar was a fool and so is his descendant, this King Jarot…

Treachery……

They say I have the blood of the ancestor and for that I must be destroyed. I will be the wellspring of evil.

As you begin to make your way through the city streets, the crowd begins to part…..

The party begins their search for the Mark. With little to go on but a brief description and a sideways glance frozen into a dragonshard you begin your search. Camping the Lyrander enclave in Fairhaven you overhear information that one of the Captains of the Lyrander enclave, Enlo D’Lyrander may be able to shed some light on who or where the Mark is. You follow him from his post one evening to his favorite watering hole, Mercy’s Pub. The party approaches him but he grows suspicious and bars the door. A fight ensues and Enlo puts up a vicious fight but after defeat he yields no clues and it soon becomes clear that you have made a deadly enemy.

What you learned about Enlo D’Lyrander:

Streetwise 8: Although Enlo does bare the dragonmark of House Lyrandar, he is not high in the bloodline and may be a distant cousin of some other ranking member of the house.

Streetwise 10: Enlo served both Aundair and House Lyrandar in varying capacities during the Last War. He is considered a war hero.

Streetwise/Diplomacy 14 – Although not every street vendor is chatty, you find one or two who carefully reveal that the Captain of the Gate is Enlo Selavash d’Lyrander. They quickly follow up that, “You didn’t get the information from me. You don’t want to cross Enlo.”

Streetwise/History 14: Enlo courageously led his battalion in many valiant attacks against Thrane during the closing years of the Last War. He served in the northern theatre near Thaliost. He became known as the Lyrandar Devil by Thranish soldiers.

Streetwise/Diplomacy 18 – Enlo has a favorite watering hole called Mercy’s Pub. A small dive that has only been around for a year or so.

Some time later your dragonshard pendant yields a soft glow. Looking closely within you can read the words, “Report to 980 Mark Street in Fairhaven by Sul, the 25th of Nymm.” Interested or just needing work you hurry to Fairhaven where you are reunited with some familiar faces.

On a dreary and rainy night, you all meet with Burris Atwater at his warehouse on the river. The top floor is a comfortable living suite overlooking the water. Lightning flashes outside and rain hammers against the window. Burris describes himself as a trader and transporter of goods. However, he also acts as a broker of sorts, putting important clients in contact with “folks who can get things done.” He leaves and but not before introducing you to your new employer.

“I appreciate you meeting with me. My name is Onar Baird. I work for the Wayfinder Foundation. I have been tasked with finding a band of mercaneries that can partake in a delicate matter. Though I know little of your past work, you come recommended and I’m pressed for time. I need you to find this man.” Onar reaches into a pouch and withdraws a small cylindrical object, similar to a jewelry loupe. He rolls it across the table. “You can keep it he says with a nod.” Onar knows little of the man in the glass, not even a name, only that he has been seen entering the Lyrander compound in Fairhaven numerous times, typically once a week for the past month. A side profile of the man can be seen at the Lyrander compound gate in Fairhaven. He wears a nondescript brown cloak pulled over this head. His right profile is barely visible but he appears to be a slim human man, maybe in his early to mid 20’s. He has a slightly hawkish nose but is otherwise indistinguishable. He appears to be talking to a middle-age guard behind the gate.

He continues, “About a month ago we started hearing rumors that someone was in Fairhaven trying to….unload something. We’re not quite sure what that something is yet…possibly some artifact which is why we’re (The Wayfinder Foundation) interested. But we suspect he’s the seller.”

He offers 500 gold for any information on this man. He warns you against going to the Wayfinder Foundation to deliver the information but instead refers you to a contact. "On Market Street two blocks from our Fairhaven guildhall is a crystal vendor, a river elf by the name of Valer. Tell him, ‘The crystals sparkle in the sun.’ He’ll get word to me and I’ll find you. Just keep your eyes on the mark in the meantime.”